Around 3,000 Airbus workers at sites in Broughton and Filton have voted to take strike action in a dispute over pay. The industrial action, organised by the Unite union, is expected to begin in early September.
The overwhelming vote, with a 90% majority in favour of a strike, follows the rejection of a pay offer from the company. The strikes are planned for a total of 10 days over a three-week period and are set to disrupt the production of wings for Airbus’s commercial and military aircraft programmes.
The Broughton factory in North Wales is responsible for wing assembly, while the Filton site near Bristol handles design and engineering. The union has warned that the action will cause delays to aircraft deliveries and put pressure on the global supply chain.
Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham said Airbus, which is “generating billions in profit”, could afford to offer a better deal. “Our members are simply seeking fairness, not favours,” she said.
The union argues that the company’s latest pay offer does not adequately address the current cost of living and fails to reflect the “highly specialised skills” of the workforce. Unite has asked Airbus to return to the negotiating table with a new offer.
Airbus has made a series of offers throughout the negotiations. The initial proposal was a two-year deal with a 3.6% increase in the first year and 3.15% in the second, along with pension enhancements. This was accepted by management staff but rejected by the production workers.
A subsequent one-year offer of a 3.3% rise for 2025, with an additional 0.3% in January 2026, was also rejected. The most recent proposal included a one-off payment of £200.
In a statement, Sue Partridge, Airbus UK Country Manager for Commercial Aircraft, said the company had made a “competitive and fair” pay offer. She highlighted that workers had already received pay increases totalling over 20% in the last three years, in addition to a £2,644 bonus payment earlier this year.
“Our priority remains to find a resolution together with the trade union that ensures the long-term competitiveness and success of Airbus in the UK,” she said.
Despite the union’s warnings about disruption, Airbus has stated it is not currently concerned about the impact on year-end deliveries. The strikes are scheduled to begin on 2 September.